#58: Stop Wasting Money on AI Tools: Why Operators Need Skepticism in Their Tech Stack
The Operator’s Guide to AI Tool Selection (Before Your CEO Buys Another One) Your entrepreneur is excited about another AI tool, but before you add it to your tech stack, you need to know this: MIT research shows that 95% of AI investments have produced zero returns at the company level. The Salesforce disaster is […]
57: Two Delegation Secrets That Will Transform How You Lead Your Team
Free Up Your Time While Developing Your Team In this solo episode, Megan Long breaks down why so many Seconds-in-Command and Integrators struggle with delegation, usually because it was modeled poorly for them or they’ve fallen into the trap of thinking “it’s faster if I just do it myself.” The game-changer comes from understanding two […]
#56: From Doer to Leader: Training Managers at Every Level of Your Organization with Ryan Castle
Stop Promoting Your Best Employees Without Training Them to Lead Growing companies hit a predictable wall when their star employees get promoted to management positions without proper training. Ryan Castle, co-founder of Level 10 Leaders, joined The Right-Hand Roadmap to tackle this common entrepreneurial business challenge head-on. After working with over 250 organizations, Castle has […]
#55: I’m Running the Company, So Why Don’t I Feel “Seen”?
Always visible, but feeling unseen. At Second First, we hear this all the time from seconds-in-command: “I’m running the company. I’m making the decisions. I’m keeping the team on track… but I don’t feel seen.” It’s a hard feeling to name, but it’s real. You’re essential to the business, yet your impact is often invisible. […]
#54: The “I’m Too Busy” Trap
If you’re always too busy to invest in yourself, your career might be stuck. In this short but powerful solo episode, Megan Long addresses the all-too-familiar excuse: “I’m too busy.” Whether you’re putting off professional development, skipping strategic planning, or just stuck in back-to-back meetings, it’s time to ask what that busyness is really costing […]
#53: 5 Problems to Fix Before You Grow
Before you chase growth, fix these foundational cracks that could break your business. Before you chase aggressive growth targets, you have to ask yourself a hard question: Is your business actually ready to scale? We work with leaders every day who are stuck in the messy middle: growing revenue while cash gets tighter, roles get […]
#52: No Bullsh*t Strategy: How to Clear Competition and Craft a Profit-Driven Strategy with Alex M H Smith
Most companies don’t have a real strategy. What’s the difference between being the “best” in your industry and being the only one of your kind? In this episode, bestselling author and street strategist Alex M H Smith joins Megan Long to break down the myths of business strategy. If you’re a COO or second-in-command trying […]
#51: Determine What to Delegate to Scale & Successfully Work with a Remote VA with Kimeran Johnson
Unlock time and scale smarter by learning what to delegate and how to successfully partner with a remote VA In this episode, Megan Long sits down with Kimeran Johnson, COO of Nexus Point, to dive deep into how executives can offload the right work, reclaim their time, and scale their companies using offshore virtual assistants. […]
#50: Fifty Things I Wish I Knew as a COO (Rapid Fire)
50 Lessons for 50 Episodes In this special 50th episode, host Megan Long reflects on the hard-won wisdom gathered from years of working as (and with) Seconds-In-Command at founder-led companies. She shares 50 rapid-fire lessons she wishes she could give her younger executive self, ranging from mindset shifts and leadership tactics to strategic guidance and […]
#49: The Lead-Gen Blueprint for SMBs & Perfecting an Outsourcing Partnership with Cindy Dodd
Scaling Smarter: What Every COO Needs to Know About Lead Gen In this episode, Megan Long interviews Cindy Dodd, the powerhouse COO and cofounder of PEMA.io, an Inc. 5000 B2B appointment-setting firm. Cindy breaks down the most common lead generation mistakes, shares how to hold outsourced vendors accountable, and reveals the revenue planning process that […]